What to do with the struggling Ivan Nova? Over at PB, Jay Jaffe examines the options:
While Phil Hughes remains at least a month away from returning — he’s scheduled to throw live batting practice soon, though some would argue that’s exactly what he did during his three ugly starts — the Yankees do have other options should they turn away from Nova. Hector Noesi has been impressive in three relief outings, throwing 9.1 innings while allowing just one run. His 5/4 K/BB ratio isn’t anything impressive (particularly given an 11/9 K/BB ratio in the minors), but he’s shown a proclivity for pounding the strike zone for the bulk of his minor league career; his K/BB ratio on the farm is a stellar 5.1. One of his major league walks was intentional, and particularly during his four-inning major league debut during that epic in Baltimore, the kid — who’s all of two weeks younger than Nova, by the way — has shown some moxie with runners on base. According to Texas Leaguers, he’s thrown six different pitches: four-seam fastball (48.1 percent), slider (24.0 percent), curve (10.1 percent), changeup (7.0 percent), two-seam fastball (7.0 percent), and cutter (3.9 percent). While there may be some classification crossover amid these admittedly small samples, he’s clearly not afraid to use multiple offspeed offerings. Furthermore, he’s getting swinging strikes about three times as often (12.8 percent) as Nova.
Also looming in the organization is Carlos Silva, who has compiled a 22/6 K/BB ratio and a 2.13 ERA in 25.1 innings over five minor league starts, most recently at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He has an opt-out clause in mid-June if he’s not promoted, and it doesn’t take a crystal ball to imagine that with another solid start from him, and another rough outing from Nova, the Yankees might take a peek before they risk losing him. The chances of the team catching lightning in a bottle with another corpulent castoff aren’t all that high, but Silva hasn’t drawn reports of looking completely washed up as Kevin Millwood did during his slog through the hinterlands.
Seems to me this is where Rothschild and Martin add value. They have to make the kid be aggressive and make him throw his other pitches. When he switched things up recently and started throwing more curve balls (at Freddy's suggestion, apparently), he had good results. If he does not turn it around, I would go with Noesi -- way more upside than the re-tread Silva and he deserves a shot to start based on age and this year's MLB performance.
Talent + experience = success. Trust the scouts.
For the title of the article if nothing else, here's Pinto's Baseball Analytics article on Bartolo Colon's performance yesterday. I can't get enough of those heat graphics.
I'm going to be ill if Carlos Silva makes a start for the Yankees..
[4] But you might have said that about Freddy G., right? Or 'Tolo?
(Not that I'm in favor of a Carlos Silva Experience.)
Old friend Ace starting for the BoSox. His line so far:
Pitchers IP H R ER BB SO
A Aceves 3- 5 -5- 3 - 2 - 1
Pale hose up 5 -1 after 3
[6] It was pure genius to sneak Ace in there, I have to give Cashman credit. He's still on our payroll, right?
It's tough being the best.
"The next issue of Sports Illustrated will contain its annual poll of 185 major league players rating the game's MOPs -- or Most Overrated Players.
The results were obtained by ESPNNewYork.com and not surprisingly, Alex Rodriguez successfully defended his 2010 title as baseball's most overrated player with 18% of the vote.
Joba Chamberlain retained his title as No. 2 on the list with 12%. Derek Jeter rounded out the top three, coming in third with 7%. Nick Swisher got some love, too, tying Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon for fifth place with 4% of the vote."
4 of the Top 5. Man, we are GOOD!
Damn, this Sox-Sox game is good.
Old friend Ace is done for the BoSox. His fnal line:
Pitchers IP H R ER BB SO
A Aceves 5- 8 -8- 6 - 3 - 1
Pale hose up 10 -1 after 5.5
[5] Yeah but those guys were at least "good" once upon a time..Silva has been awful for years. Adrian Gonzalez will homer on the first pitch in every AB against him..
The Sox-Sox game is less fun now. (But still pretty safe.)